NLC Decries Poor Funding of Education
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Monday expressed solidarity with university students over decay in the nation’s educational system.
The labour movement lamented that the fight for a better educational system has been left for only the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the non-academic staff to prosecute.
NLC’s Head of International Relations and National Assembly Liason Uche Ekwe, who stood in for the NLC President Ayuba Wabba, said it is unfortunate that the budget for education has continued on the downward trend in the past 20 years, adding that the country was still far from the 26 per cent mark recommended by UNESCO for education funding.
Education experts call for a ‘take your son into university day’
The proposal is based on “take your daughter to work day”, which began in 1993 as a way of exposing girls to as wide a range of careers as possible, and aims to address the growing gender gap at British universities where female students outnumber male. Girls are already outperforming boys at the end of primary school when they take their key stage 2 Sats, with 68% of girls reaching the expected standard compared to 60% of boys. This summer 17.1% of boys in England attained top marks, an A or 7 and above, in their GSCEs compared with 23.4% of girls. That gap persists at A-level.
Investment in Education Best Gift from Government to Citizens – Mrs. Laure Beaufils
In her congratulatory message to the school, Mrs. Beaufils said 60 years of consistency in excellence and capacity building was a remarkable feat for any Institution.
She said, “I started my career as a civil servant, specifically as an education adviser; so to an extent, I know a thing or two about education. Investing in education is the best investment any government or anyone can make and invest in girls’ education is the most effective investment that can be made.
“This is why I will implore you to always think of those without access to education,” Beaufils said.
The British envoy charged the government to also focus on other developmental goals since it was not certain that there would be jobs for graduating students.
She added that education was not just about knowledge but creativity; confidence and not being afraid to voice out one’s belief.